118i 1.5 SE Auto 3dr Hatchback

3 cyl 1.5l petrol engine and 8-speed auto combination is sublime. Other details less so...

My previous car was an Audi A4 diesel in which I drove 20,000 miles/year. A change in my circumstances last year meant that I then needed a petrol-engined car to do a much smaller annual mileage. Having got used to the torque at low revs of a diesel engined car, I was not looking forward to the change. However, I am seriously impressed with the BMW 1.5l petrol engine/auto combination. I'm amazed how it pulls at such low revs - just like a diesel does. It does less than 2000 rpm at 70 mph. The same as my Audi diesel. And, it does about 43 mpg on a run compared with the Audi's 48 mpg. 39 mpg round town/short runs.

The Audi is the only car to have ever caused me to have to change my plans due to a breakdown in over 40 years of driving - including some real old bangers. Something expensive abruptly failed in the DPF electronics...

The BMW we bought wasn't the one that we test drove. That was a mistake. It was another BMW garage staff car/demonstrator. It has leather seats, which I simply assumed would be an 'upgrade'. The leather does smell nice, but the drivers seat and my backside don't fit together at all well. It only becomes noticeable after an hour or so, but it nearly caused me to sell the car on soon after we got it. However, we stuck with it and made a fitted cushion which solved the problem - after a fashion. Now all is well. Except I don't get to sit on a leather seat...

I'd get a 5-door if I was to buy again. The 3-door is a little awkward as regards using the folding rear seats/luggage space. And, in frosty weather, the windows on the frameless doors of our car can stick to the inner rubber seal, so they won't descend the half inch that frees them from the outer seal, allowing the door to open. Tugging on the door is no good because the glass is buried in the seals. Warm water does the trick.

After owning it for 12 months, I like everything else about the car - and the engine gearbox combination is a real treat. There haven't been any mechanical or electrical problems so far. The oil level was about half way between the two marks when we got it at 5,000 miles. Now at 13,000 miles I have just had to add a little more. No complaints there. (oil consumption problems were what put me off buying a petrol Audi).

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